He almost cried on the drive from lower Manhattan to Yankee Stadium. He retreated to the clubhouse between innings to dab at his moist eyes. He stood at shortstop and breathed in and out and peered at his cleats, more evidence that tears were a millisecond from dripping on his pinstriped uniform.

This was Derek Jeter, the coolest of shortstops, on his last day at the Stadium. And, by Jeter's own admission, he was an emotional mess. As much as Jeter had tried to disguise his feelings and act like Thursday night was just another game, he had failed. Miserably. It wasn't another game. It was the last home game, the last time he would ever report to his office at the Stadium.

Jeter has always been the smile-and-have-some-fun superstar, the player who spoke to young fans in the on-deck circle

In Derek Jeter's final days with the Yankees, moments in which he answered questions about whether he would become emotional or remain stoic when his memorable run at Yankee Stadium ended, Jeter offered a subtle reminder of how he has thrived and survived in New York for so long.

"I don't like to complicate things," Jeter said.

Call it a mandate or a rule, but Jeter lived by that simple sentence for his entire career, never letting any situation become too cumbersome and never letting anyone control what he did or what he said. When you are as talented and as confident as Jeter and you refuse to let any type of chaos engulf you, even the chaos that can exist in Yankeeland, you can march at your own pace. Jeter always marched at his own pace.

There are so many images that remind me of Paul O'Neill's career with the Yankees, a career in which he helped them win four championships in his nine seasons. Images of pivotal hits, bulldozing slides, lunging catches and percolating emotions. Watching O'Neill play was like watching a simmering tea kettle. Eventually, he was going to boil over.

But the image of O'Neill that lingers with me more than any other has nothing to do with his hits, slides or explosions. It has everything to do with his disdain for losing. When I think of O'Neill, I remember him sitting in front of his locker after a loss, his elbows resting on his knees, his hair flaring in 13 directions and a scowl decorating his face.

In those moments, O'Neill looked as unapproachable as a 300-pound bouncer who just

In the latest installment of JCTV, former Yankees hurler David Wells chats with Jack Curry about the lefty's All-Star music lineup, his life after baseball and whether or not he could still pitch in the majors.

In the latest episode of JCTV, Yankees legend Reggie Jackson talks about his work with the team in spring training, his pride in being part of the Yankees' organization and his favorite memories as a player.

In the latest episode of JCTV, Jack Curry chats with Carlos Beltran about the outfielder's dream of playing for the Yankees, his admiration for Bernie Williams and chasing an elusive championship ring.

Back in 2007, Derek Jeter told Gene Michael, the Yankees’ super scout and a man who helped him with his footwork as a minor league shortstop, that he planned to become a baseball owner after he retired. Jeter asked Michael, who was 69 years old at the time, if he wanted to be Jeter’s general manager.

“How much longer are you going to keep playing?,” Michael asked.

“Ten years,” Jeter said.

Michael was confused. If Jeter played those 10 more predicted seasons, he would have be active until the end of 2016. If Jeter put together an ownership group and and then was able to find a team to purchase in, say, a quick three years, it would be 2019. By then, Michael would be 81.